FAFSA® corrections: A step-by-step guide

Updated: Oct 20, 2023

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What is the FAFSA?
Common FAFSA mistakes
FAFSA corrections process
Other ways to unlock college funding

Completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the first step in securing financial aid for college. It’s a thorough process that takes a deep dive into your family’s financial situation, and the information you provide is used to determine your aid eligibility. If you made a mistake or need to update or change anything, rest easy—it’s possible to make FAFSA corrections, even after it’s been submitted and processed.

What is the FAFSA?

Let’s back up and clarify how the FAFSA works. It’s a form that students and parents fill out to apply for federal aid. That includes scholarships, grants, work-study, and federal student loans. The information you provide on the FAFSA determines your Student Aid Index (SAI) (formerly EFC). Your SAI is used to calculate how much need-based financial aid you’re eligible to receive.

It’s wise to complete your FAFSA as soon as possible once it becomes available on October 1 since some financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Common FAFSA mistakes

FAFSA mistakes come in all shapes and sizes. You might choose to make a FAFSA correction if you:

Need to fix an error: You may have caught a simple error after submitting your FAFSA. Maybe you entered the wrong address or accidentally included a typo in your Social Security number (SSN).
Want to make a minor update: Perhaps you’ve moved or have a new phone number or email address. You can make these updates through a FAFSA correction.
Want to add or drop schools on your FAFSA: The FAFSA allows you to list up to 20 schools that will receive your FAFSA information. If you’re accepted, each one will send you an award letter outlining your financial aid package. You can update your FAFSA if you want to add or delete schools.
Need to update your tax information: The FAFSA uses your prior-prior year tax return. For example, for the 2024-25 school year, you will use your 2022 tax return. If you completed the FAFSA before filing your prior-prior year return—and have since filed it—you can add in that information.

How to make FAFSA corrections

Making changes to your FAFSA form:

Log in to your account on StudentAid.gov.
Go to the “My FAFSA” page.
Click on Make Corrections.
Create a save key.
Make your FAFSA corrections.
Submit your corrections.

Adding or dropping schools

Click on “Add/Change Schools” within your FAFSA account, then follow the instructions.

Changing your SSN

StudentAid.gov suggests submitting an entirely new FAFSA. However, this will change the date that your FAFSA is processed, which may cause you to miss the deadline for school-based financial aid. Alternatively, you could contact your school’s financial aid office directly to request the change, or request a paper FAFSA Submission Summary—formerly known as the Student Aid Report (SAR)—to make your changes by hand, and then return it.

Updating your tax information

Head to the financial section within your FAFSA account and follow the instructions. Your Federal Tax Information (FTI) can be retrieved and transferred directly into your FAFSA via a direct data exchange with the IRS. This system replaces the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT).

Noting a change in your financial situation

Your family may have experienced a loss of income or health issue that’s significantly impacted your finances. Getting divorced, becoming pregnant, or having a child can do the same. In these cases, you can appeal your financial package.

How long does it take to process a FAFSA correction?

FAFSA corrections made online typically take three to five days to process. If you’ve made an admissions decision or are already in college, you can also contact your school’s financial aid office to make FAFSA corrections. Processing times may vary by school.

When to make FAFSA corrections

For the 2023-24 academic year, corrections and updates must be submitted before September 15, 2024. Visit StudentAid.gov for all federal, state, and college FAFSA deadlines.

Other ways to unlock college funding

Scholarships and grants: This type of financial aid doesn’t have to be repaid. Grants are typically awarded to students with financial need, while scholarship eligibility can be based on need, merit, and other factors.
Federal student loans: These student loans are funded by the government and must be repaid. There are multiple types of federal loans, and your eligibility is determined by the information you provide on the FAFSA.
Private student loans: Once you’ve exhausted scholarships, grants, federal student loans, and other financial aid, you might still need more money to pay for college. Private student loans can help bridge the gap.